The Player's Priority

-two-

-JACOB-

I roll out of bed, and check my phone. 5:30. I get up and put my football uniform on before going downstairs. Phoenix and Melanie are downstairs laughing as they eat.

"Morning J." Phoenix waves. I give a small grin before smiling at the young girl.

"So Melanie. What time does your school start?" I ask, sitting down with a bowl of cereal.

"Seven." She says, taking a bite of her eggo.

"Oh. Looks like you found yourself some breakfast." Meredith grins. I nod, smiling at her.

"Mer, we've told you. Sleep in. You don't need to make us an extravagant breakfast." I tell her and she rolls her eyes.

"But I'm getting paid to feed you. I might as well. Plus since Mike went off to college, I have no use on my own home." She grins. I nod, putting my bowl in the sink.

"Well. We should be going. I'll tell Lawrence to get Melanie to school by six fifty." I smile at the girl and Phoenix waves as we leave.

Once I've informed Lawrence of the ride, we're off to school.

"We got an extra spot in the bus you know. Coach is allowing certain people to bring an extra." Phoenix smirks. I roll my eyes, walking into the empty building.

"And?" I ask.

"Bring Cora! Zayn can watch Melanie, and we'll be getting her away from whatever's or whoever's causing the bruising." She frowns. I clench my fists and my demeanor becomes tense as I remember the bright blue and purple and some yellow spots covering Cora's mid drift.

"Yeah. I'll talk to her." I say breathing deeply.

"Good. Because I see the way you treat her. Jacob, she's more that just a friend to you. But let her explain herself when she's ready. Don't push her." She frowns at me. I nod, understanding. But with it comes pain and anger. Anger to know that someone is hurting her, and I can't protect her. And pain because I cant protect her, and knowing she in pain hurts me.

"Yeah." Is all I can say before we have to go to practice.

"Hey bro!" Zayn grins, and Bryce is right behind him. We walk through the halls, and Phoenix and Kaelin join us.

"So, you ready for the game?" Bryce asks, slapping my back. I nod, catching Cora at her locker. She wearing large clothes, and a hood over her head.

"Yeah, I'll talk to you later." I say, heading in her direction. I don't know what it is, but ever since we started talking, I just always want to talk to her.

"Hey Cora." I say, as she freezes.

"Hey Jacob." She whispers, slamming her locker. She begins to walk away, but I grab her arm. "I can't talk." She mumbled, but I spin her around to see dark bruising covering her face. Everything freezes as I take her in.

Before h can really examine her, she ducks her head.

"I need to go Jacob." She says, wriggling from my hold. She begins to walk away again, but I call her.